Freshman Flashback
Times have been a changin’ on college campuses. What were same sex dorms in 1967 are now coed. Love beads have been replaced by navel rings, typewriters with PCs, vinyl with CDs. Bobbie Gentry’s “Ode to Billy Jo” was the nation’s hit single when freshmen arrived on campus after the Summer of Love. Last fall, it was “Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems” by Notorious B.I.G. Responding to a survey on college lifestyle, last year’s freshmen pointed out other differences: They studied less than their predecessors, for instance, but they exercised more and partied less. A sample of some changes:
* Looking back on your freshman year, if you could have only one thing in your dorm room (aside from your bed, clothes, etc.), which one of these would you choose?
Typewriter/word processor/computer
Freshmen in 1997-98: 39%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 23%
*
Stereo equipment
Freshmen in 1997-98: 23%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 19%
*
TV
Freshmen in 1997-98: 13%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 12%
*
Alarm clock
Freshmen in 1997-98: 12%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 23%
*
Mini-refrigerator
Freshmen in 1997-98: 6%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 17%
*
Food preparation equipment
Freshmen in 1997-98: 4%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 6%
*
* How did you typically dress for class during your freshman year?
Note: Figures may not total 100% due to rounding.
Casual: Wrinkled pants, jeans, sweater, sweatshirt, newer T-shirt.
Nice: skirt, blouse, or pressed pants, dress shirt, tie.
Sloppy: Worn-out jeans, old T-shirt or sweatshirt, baseball hat, cutoffs.
Casual
Freshmen in 1997-98: 84%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 54%
*
Nice
Freshmen in 1997-98: 9%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 42%
*
Sloppy
Freshmen in 1997-98: 7%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 3%
*
Other
Freshmen in 1997-98: 2%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 1%
*
* How did you spend the majority of your time during your freshman year?
Studying
Freshmen in 1997-98: 55%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 68%
*
Recreation/exercise
Freshmen in 1997-98: 16%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 5%
*
Working
Freshmen in 1997-98: 16%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 13%
*
Partying
Freshmen in 1997-98: 10%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 13%
*
Other
Freshmen in 1997-98: 7%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 2%
*
* How did you primarily pay for college?
Student loans
Freshmen in 1997-98: 31%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 15%
*
My parents paid for most of it
Freshmen in 1997-98: 22%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 22%
*
My parents paid 100%
Freshmen in 1997-98: 18%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 18%
*
I worked and paid for most of it myself
Freshmen in 1997-98: 10%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 34%
*
Scholarships (figures not available for 1997-98)
Freshmen in 1997-98: 34%
Freshmen in 1967-68: 12%
Source: NFO Research Inc; Researched by KEN WEISS / Los Angeles Times